For Obama, veto isn't overriding concern

More threats than action against bills

Published: 12/26/2012 at 11:55 PM

(Washington Times) That yawn you heard was Congress reacting to another veto threat from President Obama.

Mr. Obama threatened to veto the $633 billion defense authorization bill, which Congress approved last week, over issues including the handling of detainees at U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The president raised similar objections over the same bill last year, but went ahead and signed it into law after adding a statement that the administration would not detain Americans without trial.

Conferees did remove some contentious provisions, including a ban on same-sex marriage ceremonies on military bases. But the legislation still contains elements to which the president objects, such as rolling back cuts to the Air National Guard, and the White House reiterated its veto threat Thursday.